Yolo-Sacramento County CA Archives Biographies.....Fisher, Isaac 1829 - 1908 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com January 18, 2006, 7:11 pm Author: Tom Gregory (1913) ISAAC FISHER The life which this narrative delineates began in Lebanon county, Pa., March 4, 1829, and closed in Yolo county, Cal., April 4, 1908. The intervening period of seventy-nine years represented an era of great activity and large accomplishments. The greater portion of the eventful existence was identified with California, and the sturdy pioneer who had crossed the plains from Indiana as early as 1853 formed one of that intelligent and industrious group of farmers to whose foresight may be attributed the first agricultural development of the great commonwealth. In no particular was his shrewd, keen judgment more in direct evidence than when he expressed himself as favoring irrigation and the consequent dividing up of the large ranches into small fruit farms, thereby securing large returns from the fertile soil of the valley. Many opposed his theories concerning irrigation, holding that the presence of the ditches would injure the appearance of the ranches and, more serious still, would cut up the land in a way that would render cultivation a tedious and difficult task. The history of later years testifies as to the correctness of his opinion. In other respects he was ahead of his times and viewed his county and commonwealth with the progressive vision more characteristic of the-twentieth century than of his own period of activity. The genealogical records of the Fisher family indicate their early association with Pennsylvania, but about 1836 Henry and Magdalena (Snavley) Fisher took their family to the newer country of Indiana, where the father, who was a farmer by occupation and a miller by trade, settled at South Bend and became interested in the manufacture of woolens. During 1858, more than twenty years after his settlement in a frontier Indiana town, he started on another trip toward the further west, having decided to accompany a son, John H., to California, whither another son, Isaac, had preceded them. While on the plains he fell ill, and three weeks after his arrival in California he died at the home of his son, Isaac, at the age of sixty-three years. Subsequent to the removal of the family to Indiana attendance at school and work in the woolen mills occupied the attention of Isaac Fisher until he became self-supporting, after which he found employment as a farm laborer and as an assistant in tanneries, besides occasionally working in the woolen mills. However, his decision early was made to come to the then unknown west and as soon as practicable he started on the trip. It was during March of 1853 when he with a number of companions left South Bend for California via Council Bluffs, Salt Lake City and the Carson route. The journey, which was made with horse teams, came to an end in Sacramento September 19, after which Mr. Fisher found employment at odd jobs for a time and in the mines for a few months. Coming next to Yolo county, he settled on a claim, which his widow still owns, this now being a very valuable and productive tract. With the arrival of his brother in 1858 the two bought a squatter's title to three hundred and twenty acres and engaged in its cultivation, but in 1859 Mr. Fisher dissolved partnership with his brother and thereafter was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres. When the irrigation ditch was completed he devoted the ranch to alfalfa and erected substantial farm buildings. To show what he accomplished it may be stated that during 1886 he raised five tons of alfalfa seed from twenty-five acres and sold the same at twelve cents a pound. For years he made of his ranch one of the most remunerative properties in the entire valley and his success proves what it is within the power of a capable farmer to accomplish on this fertile soil when aided by satisfactory irrigation facilities. The first marriage of Mr. Fisher was solemnized in Woodland and united him with Miss Mary Cunningham, who was a native of Ohio and died in Yolo county. Two daughters were born of that union. The elder, Adella, Mrs. Madison P. Barnes of Sacramento, is the mother of two children, Jean and James Barnes. The younger, Edna, is the wife of Gardner Spencer, of Alameda, and the mother of two children, Marjorie and Kenyon. At Cacheville, Yolo county, March 16, 1878, occurred the marriage of Isaac Fisher and Miss Anna Rhoads, a native of Anderson, Madison county, Ind., and a daughter of John L. and Lovina (Fierce) Rhoads, natives, respectively, of Ohio and Virginia. During the years of active life Mr. Rhoads engaged in the building business in Anderson, Ind., and there his death occurred during 1909 at the age of eighty-six years. When Mrs. Fisher was still a small child she was bereaved by the death of her mother in 1858, after which she was taken into the home of an uncle, Rev. S. H. Rhoads, a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. She was given excellent advantages and is a graduate of the high school of Elkhart, Ind. When her uncle became a citizen of Woodland during 1875 she accompanied him to this city, and three years later became the wife of Mr. Fisher. Since his death she has rented the alfalfa ranch three and one-half miles south of Woodland and has made her home in this city, where she has a large circle of friends, not only in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she is an earnest member, but among all the people, irrespective of creed or social rank. At the age of twelve years she was converted and united with the denomination to which she has given a life of devoted, intelligent service and whose charities and missionary movements have received the aid of her practical helpfulness and generous contributions. She is the mother of four children, three of whom still reside in Woodland, while the eldest, Oscar S., makes his home in Berkeley. By his marriage to Miss Anna Stone he has one son, John F. The second son, Nile I., who is engaged in the feed and fuel business, married Doli G. Owens. Mrs. Grace L. Epperson is the mother of two children, Sidney and Anna. The youngest member of the family circle is Chester H., also a resident of Woodland. From boyhood Isaac Fisher was interested in public affairs. Frequently he would recount with pride the story of his participation, in 1840, at the age of eleven years, in the raising of a flagpole in honor of William Henry Harrison. When the slavery agitation first began to interest the nation with its dark forecasts for the future he threw his influence on the side of the Abolitionists and did all within his power to arouse a sentiment against the country's curse of bondage. Upon the organization of the Republican party he was one of its original members and from that time until his death he never failed to support its principles. Had there been need of his services in the Civil war he would have enlisted with pride, but throughout the entire struggle California had more than her stipulated quota of volunteers waiting for assignment. Fraternally he held membership with Woodland Lodge No. 22, A. 0. U. W., and also for years belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His death was the occasion of many tributes of praise on the part of the large circle of friends and associates who had witnessed his brave struggle to develop the country and had appreciated his far-seeing discrimination and practical judgment. Additional Comments: Extracted from HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA WITH Biographical Sketches OF The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY TOM GREGORY AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yolo/bios/fisher367bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/cafiles/ File size: 8.2 Kb